Letter: Search for answers to the rising rate of cancer

ir: You report that "Every other Briton will be hit by cancer" (25 June), and the question that we need to ask is why.

Breast cancer rates have increased significantly; prostate and testicular cancer have more than doubled in recent years. Man-made chemicals in the environment may be mainly responsible for this. Pesticides, plastics and industrial chemicals produce oestrogen-mimicking substances which can disrupt the human body's hormone and defence systems.

All chemicals should be tested for their ability to give off oestrogens, particularly plastic food and drink wrappings and containers. If we want to improve human health we must clean up the environment.